Posts Tagged ‘Chris Smalling’

Have Manchester United Really Progressed Under Solskjær?

Posted: January 12, 2021 in Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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Currently sitting joint first in the Premier League, (goal difference only counts after the last game is played), many Manchester United supporters, desperate for Olé Gunnar Solskjær to succeed in the job are claiming that there has been distinct progression made under the Norwegian. The question is; are they right or do they just WANT to be right?

The idea of United being successfully managed by a former player is always appealing to fans and is currently also being tried and tested at Chelsea, Arsenal and Inter Milan with varying degrees of success/failure.

The idea is that a former player knows the club ‘inside out’ and will have no problem settling into the job. This theory, unfortunately, disregards the possibility that he may not be a very good manager!

(more…)
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Bits & Pieces: United “Welcome Back” One Whilst Waving Goodbye To Another And Chelsea Are Tired Already!

Posted: August 5, 2020 in Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur, Transfers
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Ole welcomes back an important player…..

Chris Smalling has returned to Manchester United after his loan spell at Roma ended. He was loved in the Italian capital, had apparently found his niche there and would have liked to make the move permanent.

Olé Gunnar Solskjær, still at the wheel, looked a tad embarrassed when asked about his defender’s return. He obviously wanted him out of the club as part of his “new broom” policy and was convinced that Smalling would be sold either whilst on loan or at the end of it. (more…)

Manchester United Stutter In The Transfer Market, (As Usual), While England Expects, (As Usual)

Posted: June 15, 2019 in Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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As Real Madrid complete the signings of Luka Jović, Ferland Mandy and Eden Hazard, Barcelona seem to be favourites for Matthijs De Ligt having already agreed the signing of Frenkie De Jong, Manchester City and Liverpool are being linked with some big name signings and even Arsenal and Tottenham may spend a few quid, what are Manchester United doing?

We’ll tell you what they’re doing shall we? In an attempt to strike fear and panic into the rest of the Premier League clubs they have made a short video of Chris Smalling telling anyone who will listen, (an audience which does not, to our knowledge, include any United supporters), how much he is looking forward to next season. (more…)

Manchester United’s Defence Is Still Their Achille’s Heel

Posted: March 7, 2018 in Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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This United defence has been living a lie for a long while in that the first time David De Gea has a bad game they are exposed for the average defenders that they really are.

In the game against Palace, De Gea was beaten by a deflected shot by Andros Townsend, who was given far too much time and space on the edge of the area and, in the second half, he was beaten at his near post by Patrick van Aanholt, who took advantage of a quick free kick while United’s “defence” fell into a deep sleep.

The problem is that, if De Gea had saved these two efforts, we would again be talking about a clean sheet for United and lauding another fine defensive performance by them. (more…)

Manchester United Stumble Again And Liverpool Take Advantage!

Posted: February 12, 2018 in Arsenal, Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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The meeting of the two Uniteds at St. James’ Park provided the Manchester one with an opportunity to strengthen their hold on second place while the one from Newcastle was looking to pull away from the bottom three.

The way the game went, an outsider would have been hard pressed to spot which was which and Newcastle ended the match as deserved winners.

Manchester United, in truth, were pretty woeful and if this defence is one of the best in the Premier League it must be because the opposition this season have all been short-sighted. (more…)

Who’s To Blame For Manchester United’s Dip In Form? José Mourinho Or The Players?

Posted: December 28, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Jose Mourinho, Liverpool, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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Firstly, we have to decide if there is any blame to be attached for anything. Manchester United are currently drawing games they would normally be expected to win but this could be described as just a blip.

Every team, at some stage, goes through a downturn in form and the trick is to make sure it lasts for as short a time possible.

It is also true to say that, in most other seasons of the Premier League era, United’s points tally would be enough to see them top the table, albeit narrowly.

Their ignominious exit from the Carabao Cup was the only real black mark on an otherwise relatively impressive season. (more…)

What Is Manchester United’s Best Defensive Line-Up? And Who Will Sell Who? We Look At The Big Seven Players Rumoured To Be On The Way Out Of Their Clubs

Posted: December 2, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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As regular readers of these chronicles will be aware we are not the biggest fan of Chris Smalling. Louis van Gaal called him Mike because he wasn’t an important enough player for the manager to be aware of his first name.

We have consistently referred to him as “Bambi-on-ice”, “Donkey Smalling” and other such less-than-flattering names.

He has never helped himself off the field by his constant claims of how good he is and how much he has helped the team, particularly when overlooked for the last England squad. The problem was that his claims of being a rock in the heart of the United defence came at a time when he couldn’t actually get in the team! (He is a long way from being the sharpest tool in the shed is our Chris)! (more…)

Chris Smalling To West Brom, Gareth Bale Not Going Anywhere And A Reminder To Ed Woodward

Posted: July 25, 2017 in Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Transfers
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If the press is to be believed, (and why shouldn’t they be?), then Chris Smalling is of major interest to West Bromwich Albion.

He is also rumoured to be of interest to Everton, West Ham, Newcastle, Leicester, Stoke, Crystal Palace and Arsenal with the latter’s interest probably proof of why Arséne Wenger should have resigned at the end of last season.

The West Brom move, however, is one of those which would make sense to all parties. Smalling has struggled to play regularly under José Mourinho whilst Louis van Gaal didn’t even know his name! (more…)

Four Players Manchester United Should Be Offloading

Posted: June 16, 2017 in Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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(Guess which four of this lot should be sold by United)

Whilst the rest of the footballing world watches with almost child-like, wide-eyed wonder at the movement of players through a metaphorical window, we here at WSA have reached the stage where we trust José Mourinho and are, therefore, happy with whoever he chooses to bring to the club.

That is not to say we won’t be watching, reading and listening for every player linked with United as well as the few who will actually arrive, it’s just that we have decided to look at who should be going in the opposite direction. In other words, who needs to leave Old Trafford? Who has overstayed his welcome, who isn’t good enough, who should never have been bought in the first place? That kind of thing. (more…)

When Injuries And Suspensions Hit, José Mourinho’s Manchester United Squad Is Just Not Good Enough

Posted: April 1, 2017 in Chelsea, European Football, Football, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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Many people expect Manchester United to strengthen their squad during the Summer transfer window. It is not, however, just a question of getting numbers in.

Louis van Gaal tried the scatter-gun approach when spending almost £250 million and for that amount United have actually ended up with Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw, with the latter two about to be sold as soon as possible. So the outlay has netted just three players who are probably worth a total of £80 million in today’s inflated market. (more…)

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